The Mountain Home High School boys’ basketball team’s quest for a district title came up short on Thursday. The Bombers took part in the final of the 5A-West District Tournament and fell at Russellville 68-61.
The game had two ties early on, but the Cyclones never trailed in the game. Russellville was up seven at the break. Mountain Home cut the margin to two in the third quarter, but the Cyclones pulled away for a double-digit lead. From that point on, Russellville had an answer for every run the Bombers had before posting the seven-point win.
Mat Jones led Mountain Home with 29 points, Wyatt Gilbert scored 19, and Jake McGehee added 10. Donyae May had 27 points for the Cyclones, Trey Allen ended up with 25, and Grayson Sims chipped in 12.
A crucial jumper by Wyatt Gilbert gave the Bombers a 45-44 victory over the Eagles in the semifinals of the 5A-West District Tournament. The game was back and forth early on with seven lead changes and two ties, but Mountain Home was able to build a 10-point lead late in the first half. The Bombers were held mainly quiet in the second half. In fact, Mountain Home was held scoreless in the final quarter, until the last minute. Vilonia took advantage and got the lead back, when Kannon Bartlett hit both ends of a one-and-one. On the Bombers’ next possession, Gilbert was able to dribble the ball to the right corner and hit his jumper to put Mountain Home back on top inside the game’s final 30 seconds. Grant Middleton attempted a jumper to give the Eagles the lead back, but it came up short, and Vilonia was called for a foul with 3/10 of a second left after both teams were scrambling for the ball. To make sure the Eagles didn’t have a chance for a steal and a shot, Dawson Tabor thre
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The Mountain Home High School basketball teams came away with a split on Friday at Siloam Springs.
The Bomber boys came from behind to force overtime and went on to beat the Panthers 53-47. After Mountain Home went up 4-2, Siloam Springs followed with a 10-0 run. For much of regulation, the Panthers had the advantage, which got into double digits in the third quarter. But the Bombers forced Siloam Springs into 21 turnovers, allowing them to claw their way back. Jake McGehee hit a three in the corner with less than two minutes left to tie the game at 43, and that would force the extra period. Mountain Home struck first in overtime for the second and final lead change of the night. The Panthers were held to a couple of layups, and the Bombers later posted the six-point win.
The evening began with the Lady Bombers capturing a low-scoring game over the Lady Airedales with a 34-25 decision. The two teams exchanged leads four times in the first half, and Alma went into the locker room up four. Mountain Home took the fifth and final lead in the third quarter, as its defense held Alma scoreless in the period. For much of the final quarter, the Lady Bombers milked the clock, by holding the ball on their way to a nine-point win.
No one was in double figures for either team. Mountain Home improves to 2-10 on the season and 1-0 in the 5A-West. The Lady Airedales fall to 6-5 and 0-1.